Retired Marine announces bid for 71st district

Steve Ettien, 46, a retired U.S. Marine, announced his candidacy for state representative in the 71st District.

Ettien, a registered Republican, wants to serve Johnstown in order to create sustainable jobs, he said in a release.

“This election is about the future of Johnstown and how we, as a community, are going to come together, to build a brighter future for our children,” Ettien said. “And I believe that future is sustainable jobs that start at the grassroots level right here in Johnstown. So, how we are going to do this? We will do this with small business entrepreneurs right here in Johnstown. We will solve our own problems. We need a hand up and not a hand out. I see opportunity in Johnstown, which we as a community, can use to create our own future and build a better future for our children. We need responsible government, a tax system that makes sense, and we need legislators who work for the people, not themselves. I’m asking the good people to join me to start a revolution of change and to send me to Harrisburg. I have 26 years of leadership experience that I will use to find the solutions and get the action that is needed for a better Johnstown.”

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Ettien said his job in Harrisburg will be to create sustainable jobs and economic opportunity for the entire Johnstown work force, while fixing the tax system.

Ettien has been involved with the Richland Music Boosters since 2004 and has been its president for the past two years. He has been chairman of the Johnstown Chamber of Commerce Technology Committee for two years. During his tenure, the committee developed JohnstownBusiness.com to enable businesses to partner and work together to create more jobs. Ettien also writes articles for Chamber Ink as the chairman of the technology committee.

Enlisting in the Army in 1981 and changing to the Marine Corps in 1984, Ettien rose through the ranks from private to major. After 22 years, Ettien retired from the service and he and his family moved to Johnstown in May 2003. Originally residents of Baltimore, Ettien and his wife, Karen, have been married for 19 years and have two children, Lindsay and Joe. They live in Richland Township.

Ettien works for Concurrent Technologies Corp. as a director of customer relationships development. He is also the owner of Diamondback Technology Solutions. Ettien received his bachelor’s of science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University while on active duty. He belongs to the American Legion Post 849 and is a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.

State Rep. Ed Wojnaroski has already announced he will not run for a seventh term in office.